When people want to move to Australia to work, they often apply for visa programs. These initiatives allow for short-term or permanent residence based on specific qualifications. One of these programs is the temporary skill shortage visa subclass 482. It is not a permanent visa, so it may not be a path to full-time residency for every applicant. However, it greatly benefits businesses that need to fill vacant positions to address a temporary skills shortage and skilled workers who want to live and work in Australia.
Understanding the Australia Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 482
TSS visa holders can live and work in Australia based on the businesses that sponsor them. Businesses participating in the program may address labor shortages with this program when they struggle to fill some positions. A temporary visa lets a worker and their family move to the area from outside Australia to fill a vacant position that requires their specific skill set. This helps provide labor for businesses and work for migrants.
This 482 visa is a temporary initiative, allowing the recipient to live and work in Australia for two, four, or more years in some circumstances. However, it offers permanent residency pathways for those who meet specific eligibility criteria.
Eligibility Requirements for the TSS Visa
To be approved for the program, the primary applicant for a TSS visa must meet specific requirements. First, there is no age limit for applying for this type of visa. Here are the other qualifications for a 482 visa.
Sponsorship
An approved sponsor must nominate you for your 482 visa application to be approved. This must be an Australian employer that is a standard business sponsor or has applied to become a standard business sponsor. The employer must lodge a nomination connected to your application.
Skill Level and Occupation List
Four hundred eighty-two visa applicants must have sufficient skills in a specific occupation to be considered for the program. Two years of experience in a relevant position in the previous five years may be enough to qualify for the nominated occupation. Some occupations will require more experience and a skills assessment to approve your application. There are three occupations lists that depend on the length of the 482 visa you are applying for: the short-term skilled occupations list, the medium and long-term strategic skills list, and the regional occupation list.
English Language Requirements
Skilled workers must also speak appropriate English to receive a 482 visa. The minimum level of proficiency is competent English. Proficient and superior English speakers may have a better chance of their application being approved.
Salary Requirements
Employers are expected to provide sufficient income to migrant workers with TSS visas. If they do not meet the minimum salary requirements for the program, they may be guilty of exploiting overseas skilled workers. The Temporary Skilled Migration Salary Threshold is $53,900 plus Superannuation. Employers must also provide a salary similar to the market rate for that specific occupation.
Health and Character Requirements
The Australian government does not want migrants who will be burdens on society. If you have health conditions that will drain healthcare resources or criminal misconduct in your past, this could disqualify you from the 482 visa program. You will undergo a health assessment and background check to ensure you meet the requirements for an overseas worker.
Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Requirement
For a short-term stream 482 visa, the applicant must demonstrate that they will not overstay the length of their visa once the term has ended. Recent updates to the GTE requirement assume that most applicants will fulfill this obligation, but adding a letter of intent to your application will ensure you meet this requirement. It is a written statement explaining your intention to stay in the country temporarily.
Applying for the TSS Visa
An overseas skilled worker must apply for a 482 visa. Whether you are applying for a 482 visa to stay up to two years or up to four years, the process for applying is entirely online. Due to the business nomination criteria, there is more upfront work than other standard visa programs. Here are the steps involved in applying for a new visa.
Nomination by an Approved Employer
First, you need to find an employer sponsor with a nominated position. There are lists of vacancies from standard business sponsors where you can browse for job openings and compare salaries with the market salary rate. Once you connect with a business, that employer will nominate you.
Employers can apply to become standard business sponsors if they operate in Australia and pass a non-discriminatory workforce test to sponsor overseas workers. Once the business is approved or has acquired a labor agreement with the department, it can nominate a suitably skilled worker.
Visa Application Process
Once you have received a nomination from an employer sponsor, you can apply for a 482 visa. You can apply through the Australian Government Immigration and Citizenship website. Check that you meet all the requirements and have the necessary documentation on hand, and if you need help, you can work with a migration agent.
Required Documents
The sooner you provide documentation during the 482 visa application, the sooner it will be processed. As a 482 visa applicant, you should have identifying documents, English test results, health exams, and skill assessments. An employer must provide proof of operation in Australia, workforce test results, proof of labor market testing, and payment for the SAF levy fee.
Visa Application Fees
A short-stream 482 visa costs AUD1,290 or more, depending on whether you bring family members. The medium-term stream and labor agreement stream visa both cost AUD2,690 or more for additional family members.
Processing Times
Processing depends on the circumstances of your application and how responsive you are to inquiries for further information. Your 482 visa could be approved between one month and a year after your application date. The more information you provide upfront, the more likely you are to be approved quickly.
TSS Visa Streams
There are multiple options for your 482 visa, depending on the length of stay you desire and your goals surrounding permanent residency. Here are the three programs available to skilled workers who want temporary visas.
Short-Term Stream
A short-term TSS visa allows the applicant to stay in the country for up to two years. They may stay up to four years if an International Trade Obligation applies. The occupation must be on the short-term stream list, and you must meet the requirements of a genuine temporary entrant to qualify. There is not a permanent residency pathway with a short-term stream visa.
Medium-Term Stream
A medium-term stream visa will allow you to stay in Australia for up to four years. At the end of this term, you can apply to have the 482 visa extended. There is also a pathway to becoming a permanent resident with this option. Family members can be included in your application for this option, which is also true for the short-term stream visa. You need two years of experience in a particular discipline to qualify.
Labour Market Testing
Employers can use this specialized option if they are unable to fulfill specific workforce needs. This type of visa is called a labor agreement stream or Australian labor market testing. Often, employers negotiate with the department to acquire workers with specific skills, ages, or past occupations. With labor agreements, applicants can stay up to four years and renew their visas or apply for permanent residency at the end of the term.
Benefits of the TSS 482 Visa
If you are approved for a TSS visa with your accredited sponsor, there are numerous benefits you will enjoy, even though you are not an Australian citizen.
Work in Australia
The 482 visa holder is granted certain rights. You will be entitled to a fair salary that exceeds the minimum threshold. You can work in the nominated occupation on a full-time basis and receive ten days of paid sick and carer leave each year. You can only work for the employer on the nomination application, so if you want to switch to a new business, you must re-apply.
Bring Family Members
All three 482 visa options allow immediate family members to accompany you if the employer approves. Eligible members include a partner, a dependent child, and a partner’s dependent child. Workers can bring their families with them if all parties approve and the extra fees are paid.
Pathway to Permanent Residency
If you apply for a medium-term stream or labor agreement visa, you have a pathway to permanent residence. Suppose you are eligible for permanent residence at the end of your visa term. In that case, you can apply for other permanent programs that will allow you to stay in the country indefinitely and even apply for citizenship someday.